Diamond engagement rings are not only gorgeous but often expensive. It’s important to learn about engagement ring care to ensure that your ring always stays in its original condition.
Engagement Ring Care: Wearing
Treat your ring like a queen. You should respect it! While you’re going to show your engagement ring to the world, there are few things to be aware of.
Be sure your ring is a good fit. If it’s a little loose, it could slide off your finger as you are washing your hands. If your engagement ring is loose, you can always bring it to a jeweller and have it resized for you.
Avoid catching it. Depending on the cut of your diamond and the prong style, the ring could catch on some materials, such as sweaters, lace and even your hair. If your ring catches something, be gentle to remove it not to bend a prong.
Don’t wear your ring while gardening or tiding up. This will ensure your diamond doesn’t become loose and metal doesn’t scratch. Make sure you don’t wear your engagement ring while in contact with bleach. Chlorine is harmful to precious metals such as gold or platinum and may damage it.
Don’t bath, swim or shower with the ring. Water contains many different chemicals which can damage the lustre of the metal and the diamond itself.
You should put your engagement ring on last when dressing. Residue from makeup, hairspray, perfume and body creams can damage your ring or make the centre stone look dull. Putting your jewellery on should be the last step.
Engagement Ring Care: Cleaning
To have a clean and sparkly diamond engagement ring you should clean it once a week or at least once every two weeks. If you wait longer, the dirt that accumulates can harden and you won’t be able to clean your ring by hand. Instead, you may need to have it cleaned with an ultrasonic cleaner. Besides, a lot of accumulated dirt can be harmful to the setting. The dirt creates an additional fraction that makes the metal wear more quickly.
To clean your diamond engagement ring at home, you should mix a little ammonia in warm water and add some mild dishwashing liquid. Stir the water and dish soap together using a spoon or your finger. Carefully place your engagement ring in the liquid you have prepared and soak it for about 20-30 minutes. This will help to loosen any dirt.
Don’t use ammonia if your diamond has been fracture-filled. It may harm the filling of the stone.
After soaking, use a soft toothbrush to remove the dirt. Brush the ring gently not to loosen the prongs, paying particular attention to all sides and edges. Make sure you clean the lower part of the diamond as well. The base of the mounting underneath the stone is where a lot of dirt builds up. Next, rinse out the ring with clean water and dry it with a soft and lint-free cloth.
That’s it, now your engagement ring is sparkly again.
Engagement Ring Care: Inspection
Yearly inspections are an important part of proper engagement ring care. It’s highly recommended to have your ring professionally checked at least once a year. This allows a jeweller to examine your ring and ensure it is in perfect condition.
Such inspections usually consist of a prong check to make sure the setting is not loose and your stone will not fall out. Also, the jeweller checks if the metal of your ring needs to be polished or rhodium plated in case of white gold. This special care is required to maintain a smooth and shiny surface.
Some jewellers offer these inspections for a small fee while others may provide such services for free.
Cover image credit: Phillip Stoner The Jeweller
